Fall TV First Impression: NBC's The Blacklist

The broadcast networks have almost 30 shows debuting this fall, including a futuristic tale from the Fringe team, a new CW showcase for another Amell and Marvel-ous adventures for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. To help you prep for it all, TVLine is offering First Impressions of the not-for-review pilots.

THE SET-UP | Spader is Raymond “Red” Reddington, a onetime government agent who is now one of the FBI’s Most Wanted fugitives. But then Red up and surrenders himself in the FBI lobby, offering his mad skills to hunt down and whittle down a “blacklist” of mobsters, spies and international terrorists. His one, mysterious demand: That the only agent he speaks to is Elizabeth Keen (Boone), an FBI profiler fresh out of Quantico. Lennix and Klattenhoff play Liz’s boss and colleague, respectively, Eggold her husband.

THE FIRST IMPRESSION | Acknowledging that the S.H.I.E.L.D. and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland pilots have not yet been made available, The Blacklist thus far stands as the best new drama of the fall. Now, some may skim the trailer and dismiss Spader as being “hammy,” but he’s actually inhabiting a role tailor-made for the three-time Emmy winner, a man as enigmatic as he can be brilliant, at times charming but also abruptly (and entertainingly) prickly. He’s half Thomas Crown, half Hannibal Lecter. Also, the concept quickly pulls you in, as Red assists the FBI (though never in the most direct way possible, it seems), and the pilot closes with a decent-enough twist (and no, it’s not about why Liz is his “chosen one”).

Boone is a bit green as the female lead, going toe-to-toe with a room-filling personality such as Spader’s, but perhaps that helps sell her alter ego’s own noob status. That said, the show needs to be sure to convince us of Keen’s top-of-her-class smarts. But all told, this is one premiere that should be on your list.

THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE | NBC’sRevolution (now airing on Wednesdays) had no trouble opening strongly in this time slot last fall, and that was against two vets — Rick Castle and Steve McGarrett. With Hawaii Five-0 now bounced to Friday, The Blacklist‘s fate in part lies in how well CBS’ Hostages — a solid, less-procedural thriller in its own right — premieres. Barring a dire debut, I have to imagine this will be one of the Peacock’s first full-season pick-ups.

One of the best new dramas if not one of the best new shows of the Fall TV season and James Spader may have award show consideration. The Blacklist is the only new show I’m looking forward to and I can’t wait to tune in on September 23rd. BTW, I saw the trailer like hundred times on YouTube.

I’ve been reviewing fall pilots for years, and this is the best one I’ve seen yet! I wasn’t expecting a lot (based on the trailer, as you suggest), but the actual show was so compelling, I can’t wait for the series to begin this fall!

once I saw the trailer I was SOLD. It looks excellent; lots of single-episode plots, but some long season-arching ones as well. And also, James Spader….who is just, y’know, awesome in everything.
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And I’m also pretty sure the young FBI agent is his daughter, just no one knows it.

at first I was not convinced i would watch this based on the trailer, but after reading this I will definitely give it a try, so thanks Matt and TVline. Out of loyalty i’ll be watching Castle live so this will be DVR’d along with Hostages unless their so amazing i must watch it live then they’ll be bumped to live viewing, (something tells me they won’t be though)

This, Intelligence & Almost Human are my top three on the new fall line up. The fact that OUTW and SHIELD pilots haven’t been made available concerns me; like movie critics not seeing bad movies before the premiere. Hopefully this isn’t the case though.

I will DVR it because “Castle” is my favorite show on Mondays at 10:00pm, I liked the young Spader more than the old one, but he is a good actor, I hope that The Blacklist won’t be a threat to Castle, It is a twist from “Hannibal Lecter” without the cannibalizing but we all know what happen to “Hannibal” TV series last season. Hopeful “The Blacklist” & “Hostages” will cancel each other and Castle will end up as always number one.

saw the show last night ALL I CAN SAY ”FANTASTIC” spent the rest of the night thinking about it and I think I have it figured it out…….why he picked her and his “protective” nature towards this agent …….listen to the cues of her past and her recent discoveries “husband” and let me know what you thing……..

The BlackList has just been canceled……………………………….ok, now that I got you BL fans attention. Last nights premier was excellent. Simply Red was perfect for the role and Liz played the newbie detective role to a ‘T’. The only thing I did not like about the first show was how easy it was to kidnap the little girl from Liz’s hands inside the over turned car. Since Liz is pregnant by her double crossing two timing husband/double agent, she should have had a heighten mother reaction to the girl being taken away under her ‘watch’.

In regards to Red, something tells me he is related to Liz, either he is the biological father or related as a blood uncle. Red just knew way too much about Lizzy’s past as well as her scar on the hand. I really liked Lizzy’s resume in that she is more then eye candy, she actually is extremely intelligent and does a good job of profiling criminals, or at least her attempt. She still needs decades more experience to get into the mind of a criminal, after all, how could her husband have kept it a secret right under her nose that he was a double agent, she’s sleeping with him and having his baby, she should have at least had a clue.

BL2 will be very interesting in that the past will play a big part in her future. Red will be even more close to Liz even though she nearly speared a pen through her neck and Tom will be in major hot water once Liz reveals she knows his past life regarding his espionage. Will Liz have the baby? Will Red reveal his secret regarding being the father/uncle? Will Tom go to jail or will Liz not have the heart to turn him in? And the money found? Where did it come from and who sent it and why? Hopefully BL2 will answer these questions.

I give this show a 10+, finally a show with brains, action, eye candy, love story, twists and turns to captivate the mind as opposed to being shoved senseless programs of repeated stories over and over and over again with characters who look like ken and Barbie. Can’t wait for next week’s episode!

yeah she is not pregnant, its an adoption agency, because she kept saying we are accepted and got approved, they had a interview and meeting, thats where the husband went and she could NOT make the appointment Remember are did we not watch the same show!!

A little too network television-E for me, like most commercial break filled television, alot watered down, but somehow Hannibal runs as if it were on cable, they need to do the same for this, there are so many pg-13 tv shows that are suppose to be rated R on network teleision i can handle, cancelled after one season my predictions are!

Spader–awesome as ever. he’ll educate you in so many ways.. Masada, the black sea, the slimy world he enters and exits with champagne in hand. I’ll take a seat in his private jets and buckle in for a multi seasonal ride of an emmy filled show.